Monday, February 04, 2008

Big Wool Too Small

Back in November I wanted to knit up a shawl for my sister-in-law for Christmas. I felt as though she deserved a yummy hand knit. She wanted a big, comfy wrap -- rectangular and knit on the diagonal. She came to the yarn store with me and picked out some big wool. I was set. I knit it up. It went fast. So fast that I didn't have the time to really analyze what was happening. I never had time to gather myself and get some perspective. I'd say it took one, maybe two football games, so a Sunday afternoon, and there it was. A big brown ugly blanket.

There was no way this was going to be her gift. Mind you, the yarn cost about $100, so I wanted it to look a bit nicer! I got her a different Xmas present and ripped out the wrap.

A few weeks ago, after being seduced by the idea of a "speedalicious sweater" from Curly Purly, I knit up Brigitta. Without remembering the earlier lesson about speed and perspective, the lack thereof.

I thought, hmm, I'm getting 9.5spi instead of 9spi. I'll be okay b/c I'll knit the large size and I'm a M/L -- it'll be fine. Then right before I sat down to knit it, the BackBou convinced me to knit the M size ("you always wear big, loose things -- make it more fitted this time"). So, completely forgetting my previous swatching and decision about gauge, I knit the M size. What on earth is wrong with me? I ask you!

It went fast. Very, very fast. I am not a fast knitter (as you can plainly see from my dearth of FOs -- I knit all the time and have very little to show for it!). I grew intoxicated by my Big Wool speed. It was like I was on speed. I had no discernment, no discretion, no idea how friggin small this was going to actually turn out because I felt like a champion speed knitter.

I really don't like it. Some friends have tried it on and it looks smashing on them. Those people size S or S/M would look great in it. That is not me. I am going to put this up for the Richmond Waldorf School Auction in March (right about the time everyone is feeling like Spring and no one wants a big wooly sweater). It has now become one of those knits that I just want out of my life. I could barely bring myself to take a picture of it.

Pattern:BrigittaYarn: Rowan Big WoolNeedles: US 15sModifications: I made the sleeves shorter, not flared and just knitted a garter border.

Now, to wipe that off your brain, here is sock one of my Socks for Veronique. Ahhhh ... back to US 1s!

I had the same non-luck with big gauge knits--can u say Knitzanity as the hairy gorilla? I swore I would never knit another sweater for myself that was more than 16st/4 inches UNLESS it was super fitted or lacy or some other exception. Tiny girls can wear big gauge and look ingenue or gamine but I just look like a nursing mother, or more correctly like a COW.